Are Holland and Netherlands the same country? Here's why Virgil van Dijk's team are called by two names

Feargal Brennan

Are Holland and Netherlands the same country? Here's why Virgil van Dijk's team are called by two names image

The Netherlands are hoping to improve their recent tournament record as Ronald Koeman's side compete in the latter stages of Euro 2024.

A quarterfinal exit at the hands of eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup came in between failing to qualify for Euro 2016 and bowing out in the Round of 16 at Euro 2020.

Koeman has been tasked with bringing his team back to challenging Europe's elite, but his squad was hit by some frustrating injury news for the tournament, specifically with star midfielder Frenkie de Jong missing out.

Neutral fans will be curious over whether Koeman can deliver at Euro 2024 and lead the Oranje to a first major trophy since Marco van Basten inspired them to glory at Euro 88, but some may be wondering why his team are referred to by more than one name by commentators and pundits.

So, are they the Netherlands, Holland, or both? The Sporting News explains.

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Are Holland and Netherlands the same country?

Despite being commonly referred to as the same single country, Holland and the Netherlands are different. More specifically, one is part of the other.

The correct name for the nation is the Netherlands. As part of a wider push to correct the misconception, the national government stopped using Holland in official communication in 2020, specifically in relation to tourism.

For years, the perception from the wider world has often been that the names are interchangeable and refer to the same place. However, Holland is actually part of the name given to provinces in the north and south of the wider country, Noord Holland and Zuid Holland, with capital city Amsterdam situated in the former.

So, in a nutshell, Holland is part of the country called the Netherlands.

Netherlands Euro 2024 schedule, matches

The Netherlands began their Euro 2024 campaign on June 16, when they took on Poland in Hamburg.

They faced France in a huge match five days later before concluding the group phase against Austria on June 25.

DateMatchVenueTime (CET)
June 16Poland 1-2 NetherlandsVolksparkstadion3 p.m.
June 21Netherlands 0-0 FranceRed Bull Arena6 p.m.
June 25Netherlands 2-3 AustriaOlympiastadion9 p.m.
July 2Romania vs. NetherlandsAllianz Arena6 p.m.
July 6Netherlands 2-1 TurkeyOlympiastadion9 p.m.
July 10Netherlands vs. EnglandSignal Iduna Park9 p.m.

How to watch Euro 2024 matches

Broadcasters from across the world will be showing the best action from Euro 2024. Below are the key details on how to watch and stream matches in some of the major territories.

 TV channelStreaming
USAFox Sports, TUDN, UnivisionFubo, TUDN app/website, ViX
CanadaTSN, TVATSN+, TVA app/website
UKBBC, ITV, STVBBC iPlayer, ITVX, STV Player
AustraliaOptus Sport
IndiaSony Sports Network

USA: Fox Sports will broadcast matches via their network of channels including FS1. Fubo is the place to go for US based fans looking to stream matches with the platform offering a FREE trial ahead of the tournament to new users.

TUDN and Univision are the places to go for Spanish listeners looking for TV coverage, with Fubo and ViX live streaming options.

Canada: TSN will broadcast matches with streaming options available on TSN+.

French language channel TVA Sports will be providing the coverage this summer on both TV and streaming services.

Australia: Fans in Australia can follow all the Euro 2024 action live and on demand on Optus Sport.

UK: Matches will be available on free-to-air services in the UK split between the BBC, ITV and STV in Scotland. Streaming is on the BBC iPlayer, ITVX and the STV player.

India: Euro 2024 matches will be available on Sony LIV in India.

If Euro 2024 is not available to watch live in your location or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs offer a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favorite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.

WATCH FROM ANYWHERE: Sign up for NordVPN (30-day moneyback guarantee)

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Feargal Brennan

Feargal Brennan Photo

Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News. He has been working with TSN since the start of 2022 after stints with Reach, Amazon UK and Squawka in a nomadic career in the football media pyramid. Always with a keen eye on Arteta's 'Reds' and Kenny's Ireland 'Greens' and a 100% five-a-side penalty record.